Forum Activity for @jay-coker

LEGENDTORIAL TONIGHT WILL RETURN AFTER THESE MESSAGES

Administrative

Please God don't let this be one of the "messages"...

HOW DID HE DO THAT

General

He should thank Greg Biffle for single handedly causing 2 big wrecks, eliminating most of his competition.

July 7, 1990: Pepsi 400 at Daytona

Stock Car Racing History

I was there as well. I remember the wall of smoke from that wreck was so bad that you couldn't even see who was in the wreck- you just saw cars driving in the smoke, and just waited to see who got brought back on the flatbed. My dad felt so gypped that he took me over to an adjacent section where some racing buddies from Indiana were seated, and I stayed and watched the duration of the race with them, and my dad went back to the motel room.

If I recall, Bobby Hillin was the only car that could run with Dale after Bill Elliott blew up and hit the first turn wall, but he spun out on pit road late in the race and cost himself a shot at the win.

Another Junie Donlavey Play It Forward Act of Kindness

Stock Car Racing History

I wonder what Junie thought about the races I sent him...hopefully they arranged it for him to be able to watch what I sent up to him!

Declining Hall of Fame Attendance Forces Charlotte Visitors Authority to Dip Into Reserve Fund

General

Well, we agree to disagree PKL. My statement was not a personal attack on Winston Kelley as much as it was a true assessment of his "opinion" in regards to location of the Hall of Fame. As far as that is concerned- like I stated before- looking back from right now, hindsight is 20/20, but I'm actually glad now that Atlanta didn't get saddled with it. Back when they made the bid- they had several major sponsors that were willing to ante up as partners in the financing of it- namely Coke, UPS, Home Depot, and if I recall, a couple of others were willing to step up as well. But now Atlanta has landed the College Football Hall of Fame, as I mentioned- the Atlanta Falcons are negotiating to build a $1 billion retractable roof stadium which will undoubtedly lead to more Super Bowls. And of course with the newly announced 4 team college football playoff, you can bet Atlanta will be squarely in the mix for at least a semifinal game. As a result- Atlanta has basically moved on from the Hall to bigger and better things for the city; meanwhile Charlotte is mired in struggling attendance and revenue from their mighty Hall.

On to part 2- the 1986 version of The Winston. If I recall correctly, the 1985 version was far from a sellout in Charlotte. As a matter of fact, the race was held the day before the World 600 on Memorial Day weekend. Fast forward to 1986- Winston had the bright idea to stick The Winston at Atlanta on Mother's Day...nothing short of genius planning on their part. So much so that they planned subsequent races on Mother's Day...er, wait. No- they didn't, did they? I was actually at the 1986 Motorcraft 500- held a little less than 2 months earlier at AIR- sat on the backstretch as a 9 year old. I think the point is that given the ownership of AIR at the time (L.G. DeWitt and Walter Nix) combined with the even being planned on Mother's Day of all weeks- that race was doomed to fail. The idea back then was also to gauge interest in showcase the race as a traveling venue. I think what they learned was it doesn't matter where you stage that race- if you put it on a major date in the United States, people aren't going to show up. To hang that failure on the fans of Atlanta is a bit unfair to say the least. Fast forward 25 years- I don't think Charlotte sold out this year's version of the All-Star Race, did they? And they have 100 times the promotional power than they did back in the 1980s with the power of television, the internet, AND social media!

Finally- the subject of the lost Atlanta race date. I can remember the day when Atlanta was a regular sellout as the season finale in November. The spring race- well to say the weather in March here is less than cooperative is a bit of an understatement. Of course, then Bruton got the bright (sarcasm) idea to turn a perfectly good oval into Charlotte Lite, and as a result, attendance waned. Fast forward to a few years ago, when Ed Clark, AMS General Manager actually tried to say that moving Atlanta to a Labor Day weekend date and give up it's spot in the Chase was actually a good idea. If you believe that- I have a GREAT deal on a bridge in Brooklyn that I'd like to sell you. The bottom line is that Atlanta was overbuilt, underpromoted, and always got its spring date in March, when the weather here is TOTALLY unpredictable. Had they moved itback even a month or even to May, I think you would've seen the crowds continue to turn out. Again- don't blame the Atlanta race fans for not showing up to a yearly dose of rain and cold in mid-March.

Declining Hall of Fame Attendance Forces Charlotte Visitors Authority to Dip Into Reserve Fund

General

Well with all due respect to Winston Kelley, who is a MAJOR player in the Hall...he, ladies and gentlemen, is a nice guy.

Again- the numbers don't lie- that hall should have NEVER been built in Charlotte. Yet, he continually says in interviews that "Charlotte was an ideal place, etc." And I get it- it's his job to spin itpositively. I guess we agree to disagree. Meanwhile, the news reports continue to say the hall's attendance numbers are down, the hall is losing money, and so forth. All of that being said- Winston Kelly is more believable as an impartial MRN reporter than he is a spokesperson for the Hall. Eventually it will bleed enough money that they will close it and then maybe they can admit that it was a mistake. By then, the College Football Hall of Fame will be a reality here in Atlanta, the Falcons will have their retractable roof stadium, and the Nascar Hall of Fame will be an afterthought in the minds of the city of Atlanta- just like we were discarded as a second rate racetrack by Bruton Smith when he stole our 2nd race date and gave it to his beloved Kentucky Motor Speedway. Not directed to anyone here that might be attending this week, but I hope the traffic nightmare is every bit as bad as it was last year, and for many seasons to come. Sometimes you DO get what you deserve, Bruton.

Matt Kenseth

Current NASCAR

From ESPN's Jamie Little's Twitter:

RT @JamieLittleESPN: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will compete for Roush Fenway full-time in NASCAR Cup Series in '13. Kenseth and Roush will part ways the end of this yr.

All i can say is WOW. Let the speculation begin as to where he lands. I have to think it's either at Penske, or with Gibbs, possibly in the 20 car.

And as I type, Jayski just reported it. This is fact, ladies and gents.

updated by @jay-coker: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

Record for consecutive lead lap finishes to start a season

Current NASCAR

I finally got the confirmation I was looking for yesterday. JR has the record to start a season with 19 (current)...the consecutive record is 21 by Jeff Gordon in 1988-99. JR has 20 in a row dating back to last season...he will tie Gordon if he finishes all 160 laps at Indy in 2 weeks.

Record for consecutive lead lap finishes to start a season

Current NASCAR

Is my memory failing me, or am I correct to suggest/assume/guess that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has set at least the modern era record for most consecutive lead lap finishes to start a season...and perhaps in a row? The only streak in the modern era (1972-present) that comes to mind that MIGHT rival it would be Darrell Waltrip's run to the title in 1981 or 1982. I researched the top 15in pointsfrom last season, and it looks like Matt Kenseth probably had the old record to start the year with 14 back in 2007.

For all the criticism the guy gets, I would have to say that 16 races in a row of completing every lap in a race is no small feat.

updated by @jay-coker: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

The Original 1-Time Only 1980 Championship Earnhardt/Osterlund Wrangler Jeans Machine at Ontario

Stock Car Racing History

Question- is that Brock Yates in the dark sportscoat in the pits in the first pic? Sure looks like it.